Steam generator



June 25, 1946. c. c. CHANDLER 2,402,803

` STEAM GENERATOR Filed oct. e, 1942 Patented June 25,` 1946 STEAM GENERATOR Clarence C. Chandler, Kingsville, Tex.

Application October 6, 1942, Serial No. 460,987

4 Claims. 1

y This invention relates -generally tol the class of power plants and pertains particularly to improvements in steam generators.

In the external combustion type of steam boiler or steam generatr foaming occurs because of the application of heat to flrebox sheets and flues,

resulting in evaporation taking place beneath the.

` of which efficient generation of steam is possible and at the same time the disadvantages above set forth as associated with the external combustion type of boiler are completely avoided, and heat units commonly lost in gases of combustion, escaping through the smoke stack, are saved.

Another object 4of the invention is to provide an improved steam generator wherein the usual rebox, stay bolts, nues and flue sheets, dome,

smoke box, nozzle and stack are eliminated with a resultant lower initial cost and greatly reduced cost of upkeep.

A still further object oi' the invention is to provide an improved steam generator which is designed to have greater durability than the commonly used external v'combustion type of generator, and to furnish a greater amount'of power per unit of area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a steam generator having a novel method of heating the water therein and generation of steam so that the disturbance of the water in the tank during the steam generating period is avoid- -ed, and there is also avoided the formation and deposition of scale upon surfaces where it would operate to reduce the transfer of heat units from the furnace to the water, and thus interfere with the operating eillciency of the generator.

'I'he invention will be best understood from a consideration o! the following'detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the speciflc'illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section.

through a steam generator constructed in accordance with the present invention, the tank length being reduced by the breaking away of thecentral portion thereof for the purpose of illustrating the `construction of the two ends.

Figure 2' is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on an enlarged..4

scale through the outer end of the tubular housing for the fuel and air nozzles showing a form.

of packing around the'nozzles.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the forward end of one of the nozzles showing the action of the valve needle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l0 generally designates a water container or tank which is here illustrated as being of circular cross-section and having the domed ends or heads II and I2, the tank being disposed horizontally, as illustrated, and supported in any suitable manner for operation. However, it will be readily apparent that a 'tank of this specific design does not necessarily have to be employed for the proper working `of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not confined to the use of a tank of this particular type.

One end wall of the tank, here indicated as the wall Il, has a threaded opening I 3 formed therethrough above the axial center of the tank as shown, and threaded throughthis opening is a tubular housing I4, the outer end of which is closed by the cap I5 which is connected with the end of the housing by the collar I6.'

The cap I5 has suitable apertures for the extension therethrough of the two needle valve nozzles I1 and I8 which extend, respectively, from the valve bodies I9 and 20. These nozzles extend through the tubular housing and into the end of the furnace, Vas hereinafter described. These nozzles upon the outer side of the cap are encircled bya suitable packing material I5' which is secured in place by the compression plate I5" and by loosening this plate and the packing the nozzles may be withdrawn or partly withdrawn from the tubular housing for the purpose hereinafter set forth..

One of the valves, for example the valve I9, controls the ow of iluid fuel through the tip or inner end of the nozzle Il, while the other valve,

the valve 20, controls theiiow of air through the tip of the nozzle I8.

As shown in Figure 4, the flow controlling needle, illustrated in association with the nozzle III and indicated by the reference character I8',

has its point extended into and through the tip of this nozzle and, consequently, when the needle is retracted, the nozzle tip will be opened and the fluid, in this case the air, will be introduced into the furnace. It will be understood from the description of this nozzle I8 that the nozzle I1 is of exactly the same construction for controlling the introduction of fuel into the furnace. v

The fuel pipe line 2l leading to the valve I9 has a shut-off valve 22 therein, while the compressed air pipe line 23, leading to the control valve 20, has a shut-off valve 24 therein.

Within the tank or receptacle l is disposed the furnace which is indicated generally by the numeral 25. This is in the form of an elongated housing having a suitable refractory lining 25 and at one end having the threaded neck 21. 'I'he neck 21 of 'the furnace is coupled with the inner end of the nozzle housing I4 by the gate valve 2l. When this gate valve has kthe gate 29 thereof in open position the discharge ends of the nozzles I1 and I8 can be moved into the inner end of a passage for discharge into the interior of the furnace, as is clearly shown in Figure l. The gate 29 ofthe gate valve is operated by the stem 3|) which extends laterally through a suitable packed guide 3| carried by the wall of the tank, to the exterior of the tank. By means of this gate valve communication between the tubular nozzle hous-` ing I4 and the interior of the furnace may be cut off, this being effected by first loosening the packing plate I5" sulciently to permit the nozzles to be drawn back to the position where the tips will be out of the path of movement of the gate valve, after which the valve can be completely closed, as will be readily apparent. Complete removal of the nozzles may then be effected by disconnecting the cap from the tubular housing to which it is attached by means of the coupling ring I5.

The furnace may be of any desired crosssectional contour, but it is of substantial length as illustrated and extends longitudinally within the tank above the longitudinal center thereof, as shown. Within the furnace adjacent the l'uel inlet end is a target wall 32 against which the burning fuel impinges when discharged into the furnace and between this target and the opposite or far end of the furnace from the` nozzles, are bales 33 which cause the burning fuel to be bulleted about within the furnace and follow a tortuous pathway to the opposite end of the furnace.

At the end ofthe furnace remote from the nozzles, the underside or lower side of the furnace wall is provided with a plurality of discharge or exhaust apertures 34 through which the burning fuel and gaseous products of combustion pass to impinge against the underlying surface of the water W with which the tank orA receptacle is charged.

One end wall of the tank is provided with a water gauge 35 and this is arranged so that the water when being charged into the tank can be brought to a level at substantially the longitudinal center of the tank and just below and in close proximity to the furnace, as illustrated. As a result, when the burning fuel and products of comunder side of the tank and the development of steam causing bubbles to rise through the water. The numeral 35 designates the water supply pipe having a control valve 21 therein and leading off from this supply pipe upon the side of the control valve opposite from the tank, is a pipe line 38 which is connected, through the end wall I2, with a spray pipe 39 which is disposed lengthwise within the top of the tank above the furnace 25. This pipe '35 has a valve .40 therein for the control of water flow therethrough to the spray pipe, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Connected With and leading off from the top of the steam generator tank I0 is the steam and gas outlet or lead-oil pipe 4I, through which the flow' of steam and gases is controlled` by the valve 42.

Also extending through the top of the generator tank is a starting pipe which is indicated by the numeral 43 and which extends to and opens into the furnace 25, as shown. This starting pipe 43 has therein the two spaced valves 44 and 45. The

starting pipe, as shown, opens into the furnace between the target 32 and the fuel inlet.

Secured .in the end wall II and directed toward the adjacent end of the furnace, is a sight tube 48, in the outer end of which is secured a window of suitable heat resisting glass 41, while at the inner end the sight tube carries a sight control valve 48, the opening and closing of which valve is under the control of the stem 49 which is slidably mounted in the end wall of the tank so as to be conveniently actuated from the outside of the tank. This sight tube 45 is aligned with a sight window 50 in the adjacent end of the furnace andlthus when the valve 4B is opened, the operator of the steam generating plant can view the interior of the furnace to determine whether or not the correct type of heating flame is being employed for the operation of the plant with maximum efllciency.

In order to facilitate the making of repairs when necessary and otherwise properly operating the generating plant, the tank structure is provided with a suitable manhole 5! so that an attendant can enter the'tank when and if necessary.

In starting the operation of the steam generator when the latterv is cold, the tank is first filled with water to the proper level, as illustrated and as is shown by the water gauge 35. y

The air and fuel pipe lines 23 and 2 I, respectively, are under sumcient pressure to drive the air and fuel from the nozzles into the furnace when the control valves are open. 'I'he inspection or sight' valve 48 and the valves 44 and 45 of tihe starting pipe are then opened and an ignition fusee is then lighted and 'dropped through the starting pipe 43 to pass through the valves 44 and 45 into the furnace. The lower valve of the starting pipe, valve 45, is then closed and the airis then turned on by the needle valve 20 for discharge through the air nozzle i8, after which the fuel needle valve I9 is opened to allow the fuel to discharge from the nozzle I1 and pass with the air into the furnace. The fuel control valve I9 is then regulated until a Whiteheat is observed in the furnace through the inspection or sight tube 46.

To start the fire in' the furnace with pressure in the tank after the fire has gone out, requires a slightlydiflerent procedure. A thermit fusee may be used for igniting the fuel in the furnace, in which case the valve 45 is kept closed, while the valve 44 in the starting pipe is opened. The

fusee is then ignited and dropped throughthe pipe I3 into thearea between the valves 44 and 45. The upper valve 44 is then' quickly closed and the lower valve 45 simultaneously opened to let the lighted fusee fall into the furnace in front of the target 32, after which the air and then the fuel valve is opened and the fuel supply is regulated, as previously described. A thermit fusee will give four to six thousand degrees of heat and furnishes its own oxygen so that it will consume little or no oxygen from the air. If a magnesium fusee is used it may be necessary to turn the air supply on ilrst and then insert the fusee in the same manner as explained for the thermit fusee.

Where electric power is available, it will be readily apparent that ignition of the fuel may be accomplished in any of the well-known ways employed for starting fuel oil furnaces.

In passing around the target 32 and between the baffles 33 the air and fuel will be thoroughly combined and have plenty of time for complete combustion in the furnace tc develop a very high end of the tubular'housing is opened, said furnace having means for discharging heated gases temperature. The products of combustion will escape through the openings 34 at the end of the furnace and will strlke'the surface of the waiter.

. If this does not produce enough evaporation the end of the furnace maybe partly submerged and the gases forced to pass between the surface of the water and the bottom of the fumare to the back of the generator tank. To assure that the gases will not be too hot for use when forcing the generator, water may be admitted through the sprinkler pipe 39 and will fall in a Spray around the furnace, causing rapid evaporation and, consequently, absorption of the excess heat in the gases above the water level as well as absorbing heat from the wall of the furnace.

I claim:

l. A steam generator, comprising a tank' ldesigned to be partially filled with water, an elongated furnace housing disposed longitudinally in against the surface of the water and'means fo withdrawing steam from the tank.

2. A steam generator comprising a tank, the tank being designed to be partially filled with water during the operation of the generator, an elongated furnace housing disposed within the tank above but in close proximity to the water level, a fuel injection nozzle extending through an opening in the wall of the tank and directed into the furnace through a suitable opening in the wall of the furnace, means supporting said fuel nozzle in mounted position upon the tank, which is so constructed and arranged that the fuel nozzle may be partially withdrawn from the furnace without establishing communication between the interior of the furnace and the outside atmosphere, and means for closing off the said opening in the wall of the furnace when said nozzle has been partially withdrawn.

a. A construction as setforth in claim v2, in

which the said mounting means for the fuel nozzle comprises a tubular housing extending through and mounted in the said wall of the tank and joined at one -end to and opening through the said wall of the furnace, and the said means facilitating the partial withdrawal of the nozzle comprising a cap upon the outer end of the tubular housing having anaperture therethrough for reception of the nozzle and a packing secured to the cap and encircling the nozzle and adapted when loosened to permit the stated partial withdrawal of the nozzle `without establishing communication between the outside atmosphere and the interior of the furnace.

v 4. A steam generator comprising a tank. a tube secured in and extending through a wall of the v tank, a cap detachably attached to the outer end the tank above the water level, a tubular housing i extending through a wall of the tank and con-- nected with and opening into the furnace housing. said tubular housing having a portion exteriorly of the tank screw-threaded. a-.cap adapted for connection with the outer end of the tubularhousing, means having threaded connection with the outer end of the housing and with the cap for maintaining the latter in position upon the end of the housing, a fuel injection nozzle carried by said cap and extending therethrough through the tubular housing toward the interior of the furnace,v valve means for closing the tubular housing adjacent the end which is connected with the furnace, said fuel noule being coupled with said cap whereby the nozzle may be partially withdrawn through the tubular housingbeforethecapisremovedtofacilitateclosing l the tubular housing by the valve before the outer of the tube, a slide valve unit connected to the inner end of the tube and havinga slide valve member movable transversely to close the inner end of the tube, a shaft connected with the slide valve member and extending transversely through a wall of the tank for actuation of the member from outside the tank, a furnace housing within the tank and connected with said slide valve unit *the cap by means of which the nozzle may be partly withdrawn through .the cap without establishing communication between the interior of the tube and the' outside atmosphere to a position where said slide valve member may be shifted to closed position across the inner end of the tube.

'CLARENCE C. CHANDLER. 

